Car hire Greece

Car hire in Greece

Hiring a car in Greece

Greece is a hugely popular holiday destination in Europe, enjoying extremely hot and sunny weather throughout the summer months.

As well as mainland Greece, there are many Greek islands that bring in tourists from across the globe. For those looking for a beach holiday, these are the most popular destinations, with people flocking to the likes of Santorini, Corfu, Kos, Zante and Skiathos to soak up the summer sun.

Each of these has their own culture, from party destinations to sleepy Greek towns and villages.

What you need to know

Greece is huge, so you can collect a hire car wherever you're headed, be it the mainland or one of the many islands.

Almost all of the airports offer a range of high-quality car hire options at competitive prices, meaning that wherever you fly to, you can collect and car and head anywhere in Greece you want to go.

As there are so many options and such a wide variety of locations to choose from, our booking engine will help you to find the most competitive options to suit your needs. In addition, you can collect your vehicle in one location and return it to another, which is perfect if you're planning to travel around the country.

Where to pick up your car

Since Greece is so large, you can choose your pick-up location depending on where you'll be.

If you're flying into the country or to one of the islands, you'll find that the majority of airports have a variety of suppliers. Some of the most popular airport locations include Athens (ATH), Chania (CHQ), Chios (JKH), Corfu (CFU), Heraklion (HER), Kalamata (KLX), Kefalonia (EFL), Rhodes (RHO), Santorini (JTR) and Zante (ZTH).

You can wait until you arrive at your destination to arrange a vehicle, but this can prove to be fairly expensive. Instead, use our booking engine to make arrangements before you travel, and relax knowing that your car will be ready when you arrive.

Best Car Rental Companies Greece

Car Rental Reviews Greece

“The pick-up was easy, it took 5 minutes from arriving at the desk to driving out the car, and the return took even less time.” Diane T

Where to go

There is such a wide variety of locations in Greece that you certainly won't be able to visit them all unless you plan to travel the country for a month or two.

On mainland Greece, the most popular destination is undoubtedly Athens, in the south. The islands surround the entire country, although the majority run down the east and south coasts. For those looking for sun, sea and sand, the islands tend to be the most popular choice.

The north of Greece is a much more mountainous area, with Litochoro being home to the well-known Mount Olympus.

Driving in Greece

Like the rest of Europe, in Greece you drive on the right-hand side of the road. The national speed limit is 50km/h on residential streets, 90km/h out of town and 110-120km/h on motorways. However, motorways don't exist on the islands, so the maximum speed limit is 90km/h.

Many of the motorways, bridges and tunnels in Greece include toll charges. This is slightly more complex because different companies own different areas of road, so tolls can be charged much more frequently.

In more rural and mountainous areas roads can be very narrow and precarious, so for those who aren't familiar with the area, caution is advised. It should also be considered that the rules of the road are taken much more lightly here, so it's a good idea to pay additional attention to other drivers.

Longer drives

With so many choices of destination in Greece, there are different things to see depending on where you are.

If you're in the south of mainland Greece, then you should head north-west on the E75 from Athens to Delphi. The ancients of Greece considered Delphi to be the centre of the earth, and with the Parnassós mountains surrounding the city and wildflowers spread across the horizon, you can truly take in the beauty of the area.

On the island of Kefalonia, the route north from Argostoli to Mýrtos beach shows stunning views of the island, including the vistas of the Lixoúri Peninsula.

Top attractions to visit in Greece

Greece has such a variety of destinations to visit that one trip will only allow you to scratch the surface of what this beautiful country has to offer. However, here are some of the top Greek destinations.

Athens

As the capital city of Greece, Athens boasts a rich cultural history and stunning architectural ruins. It's predicted to be one of the oldest cities in the world, with its recorded history dating back 3,400 years.

You can learn much of the history of the area at the Museum of Cycladic Art, which has over 3,000 artefacts of Cycladic, Ancient Greek and Cypriot art.

To experience the culture of Athens today, head to Plaka Square, which is filled with shops, bars, restaurants and street music. You can even try traditional tyropita (cheese pie) or souvlaki (kebab) from one of the street vendors.

Zante

Zante is the most southerly and one of the largest Greek islands in the Ionian Sea. This is undoubtedly one of Greece's most popular islands, boasting stunning beaches and beautiful natural scenery.

Boat trips are a popular activity in Zante, taking you to see the island's famous shipwreck, the Caretta Turtles, the stunning beaches and top snorkeling hotspots.

Smugglers Cove in the north of the island is one of Zante's most famous sights due to its giant shipwreck, which has sat there since 1980 when it ran aground in the waters surrounding the island following a storm.

Kefalonia

About 30 miles west of mainland Greece is Kefalonia, known for its beautiful cliffs, pebbled coves and sandy beaches, the most well-known of which are Myrtos, Antisamos, Lourdas and Skala.

Kefalonia is the largest Greek island, boasting picturesque villages, medieval castles, stunning monasteries and a large port, which houses many yachts - especially during the summer months.

There's a wide variety of traditional Greek restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as some more westernised establishments to cater to the large amount of tourists Kefalonia sees every year.